Receiving its first multi-year renewal in some time, “Dancing with the Stars” will be back for Seasons 31 and 32. However, the show will be leaving ABC after a 16-year run and will be heading to Disney+ beginning this fall, marking the first time a live series will air on the streaming service and the first live-streaming reality show to air in the U.S. and Canada. The competition series debuted in the summer of 2005 with “General Hospital” actress Kelly Monaco winning the first Mirror Ball trophy and has occupied ABC’s Monday night schedule for 15 years.
First reported by Deadline, ABC informed its affiliate stations this morning that as part of its fall scheduling plans going forward it will be airing several “Monday Night Football” games and will be developing and investing in new and future programming to air on Monday nights.
Early in its run, “Dancing with the Stars” aired two cycles per season, one in the fall and one in the spring. Beginning in the fall of 2019, the show switched to one cycle to help reduce oversaturation and heed a loss in viewership. Beginning in fall 2020, Tyra Banks was named the show’s sole host. She replaced Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews. Making the decision was the show’s now former executive producer Andrew Llinares who departed in March. A new EP has yet to be named while Banks is, for now, it seems, expected to continue as the show’s host. “Karma’s a bitch,” wrote Bergeron on Twitter following Llinares’ exit.
“After over 30 seasons of the program on ABC, including two spin-offs, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ will move off of ABC this fall in order for the Network to showcase several ‘Monday Night Football’ games as well as develop and invest in new and future programming,” read the networks note to its affiliates.
“‘Dancing with the Stars’ has entertained fans for 16 years on ABC, and we are excited to bring this beloved show exclusively to Disney+ as the platform’s first-ever live series,” said Kareem Daniel, chairman, Disney media and entertainment distribution. “The show’s broad appeal, as well as the overwhelming popularity of its Disney-themed competition nights, make Disney+ the perfect home for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ while continuing to expand our demographic reach.”
“‘Dancing with the Stars’ has been a beloved staple on ABC for 30 seasons and brought so much joy to millions of viewers,” said Dana Walden, Chairman of Entertainment, Walt Disney Television. “As we’re significantly expanding our unscripted slate at ABC, this is a great opportunity to introduce this show to a whole new generation of fans on Disney+. We’re so grateful to our incredible partners at BBC Studios and look forward to continuing our relationship with them on this spectacular series, which will continue to be overseen by Rob Mills and the talented Walt Disney Television Alternative team.”
In its reporting, Deadline notes that affiliates will get to voice their opinions on the loss of “Dancing with the Stars” during the ABC Affiliate Meeting on Wednesday, May 18, one day after the network unveils its fall 2022 schedule to advertisers.